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Tax assessor briefs committee on elderly/disabled homeowner program, motor vehicle sweeps and assessment appeals
Summary
Norwalk Tax Assessor Paul Blumman told the Finance and Claims Committee the elderly and disabled homeowners application window is nearing its close, the motor vehicle sweep contractor is in its second pass, and 43 board of assessment appeals remain to be heard.
NORWALK — Paul Blumman, Norwalk’s tax assessor, told the Finance and Claims Committee on April 10 that the office is in the final weeks of its application period for the elderly and disabled homeowners program and that work on motor vehicle assessment updates and appeals remains underway.
Blumman said the program’s application period closes in about three weeks and the office will send certified renewal notices to applicants who have not submitted by then. “We are in the middle of the elderly and disabled homeowners program application period. Today is 5 weeks till the end of the program… just under 3 weeks,” Blumman said.
He told the committee the assessor’s office reopened the grand list to adjust the motor vehicle depreciation schedule and is coordinating with contractor MTS on a three‑pass sweep of properties to identify motor vehicles for billing purposes. “They are very near the end of their first sweep, and we'll begin the second sweep,” he said, noting MTS must locate items at least three times before generating correspondence to a potential taxpayer.
Blumman also reported the Board of Assessment Appeals had scheduled 58 hearings; 15 had been held and 43 remained. He said he expects that work to be wrapped up before the next committee meeting so the assessor can provide the committee with results of reductions or adjustments made through the appeals process.
Committee members asked about timing for the third MTS sweep and eligibility rules for the elderly and disabled programs. Blumman estimated the third sweep would likely finish in late June or early July and explained the program eligibility rules include income limits, a five‑year city tax payment requirement, one year of home ownership as a primary residence and required supporting documents such as tax returns or Social Security 1099s for applicants.
He also described a local ordinance clause that counts household members over age 25 toward the household income calculation unless they are dependents, and said that documentation (tax returns) must be provided if the applicant indicates such household members on the application.
The committee did not take formal action on the assessor’s report; Blumman opened the floor to questions and the discussion was informational.
